Self-propelled working machine

ABSTRACT

A vehicular body oscillating mechanism ( 31 ) is provided between a frame ( 3 ) of an automotive vehicular body ( 2 ) and a stabilizer ( 18 ) thereby to sway the vehicular body ( 2 ) arcuately in a rightward and/or leftward direction about a pivot point (A) between right and left rear wheels ( 6, 7 ) when the stabilizer ( 18 ) is set on the ground for a load handling operation. This means that, after the stabilizer ( 18 ) is set on the ground for a load handling operation, the vehicular body ( 2 ) can be swayed arcuately laterally in a rightward and/or leftward direction together with a load lifting mechanism ( 12 ). Therefore, at the time of a load handling operation with the stabilizer ( 18 ) set on the ground for stabilization of the vehicular body ( 2 ), it is possible to turn and move the load lifting mechanism ( 12 ) into a rightward or leftward direction to adjust the position or direction of lifted freight goods in case it is deviated from a specified unloading spot in a lateral direction. Namely, in a load handling operation, the load lifting mechanism ( 12 ) can be adjusted in a lateral direction to dump lifted freight goods exactly on a specified unloading spot.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to an automotive working machine, for example, anautomotive working machine which is provided with an automotivevehicular body like a lift truck.

BACKGROUND ART

Generally, as an automotive working machine which is used for liftingfreight or cargo from the ground level to a height, there have beenknown in the art the so-called lift trucks having an automotivevehicular body with right and left front wheels and right and left rearwheels provided at the opposite lateral sides of a longitudinallyextending frame, and a load lifting working mechanism provided on theframe for lifting a load up and down (e.g., as disclosed in JapanesePatent Laid-Open No. S50-19148).

In the case of the lift truck according to the prior art just mentioned,for example, freight goods which are loaded on a lift tool like a forkat the fore end of the load lifting working mechanism are carried by thetruck as far as a point in the vicinity of a predetermined freightdumping spot. After stopping in the vicinity of the predeterminedfreight dumping spot, the loaded freight goods are lifted and thendropped on the predetermined dumping spot by the load lifting mechanism.

Normally, the load lifting mechanism which is provided on theabove-mentioned lift truck is capable of moving vertically up and downrelative to the automotive vehicle body but incapable of making turnsrightward or leftward direction (horizontally in a lateral direction)because of its own construction.

Therefore, in the case of the lift track according to the prior art,where freight loading and unloading stations or spots happen to belocated on the different lateral sides relative to the direction of thetruck body, the freight goods may be lifted by the load liftingmechanism in a direction which is deviated from a predeterminedunloading station in a lateral direction. In such a case, for bringingthe freight goods to a correct unloading position, the lift truck has tobe moved again with the freight goods in the lifted state.

On the other hand, as another example of prior art lift trucks, therehas been known a lift truck having a stabilizer provided fixedly thereonto stabilize the vehicular body during load handling operations (e.g.,as disclosed in the specification of French Patent No. 2725191-A1).

In the case of the stabilizer-equipped lift truck just mentioned, thestabilizer is set on the ground of a working site for stabilization ofthe vehicle body, ensuring safe transportation of heavy and largefreight goods by the use of a load lifting mechanism.

In this connection, in the case of the stabilizer-equipped lift truck,for the purpose of stabilizing the vehicle body, it is necessary to setthe stabilizer on the ground at the time of handling large and heavyfreight goods. However, the conventional lift truck with a stabilizerhas a problem in that it cannot be put in travel once a stabilizer isset on the ground for a stabilized freight handling operation.

Namely, there has been a problem with conventional lift trucks with astabilizer in that, during a load lifting operation with a stabilizerdeployed to set foot on the ground for stabilization of the vehicularbody, it has thus far been often found difficult to adjust the positionor direction of freight goods uplifted by a load lifting mechanismcorrectly toward a predetermined unloading station particularly in acase where loading and unloading stations are located on different sidesof the vehicular body.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above-discussed problems with the prior art, it is anobject of the present invention to provide an automotive working machinewhich can adjust the direction of a load handling mechanism in arightward and/or leftward direction during a load handling operation,even after a stabilizer has been set on the ground for stabilization ofthe vehicle body.

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above-statedobjective, there is provided an automotive working machine having: anautomotive vehicular body including a longitudinally extending frame,right and left front wheels provided in a front portion of thelongitudinal frame, and right and left rear wheels provided in a rearportion of the longitudinal frame through a differential device; a loadlifting mechanism provided on said frame of the vehicular body; astabilizer provided at a front end of the vehicular body and adapted toset foot on the ground for stabilization of the vehicular body at thetime of a load handling operation by the load lifting mechanism.

The automotive working machine according to the present invention ischaracterized in that: a vehicular body oscillating mechanism isprovided between the frame of the vehicular body and the stabilizer andactuated to sway the vehicular body arcuately in a rightward and/orleftward direction together with the load lifting mechanism, about apivot point which is located between the right and left rear wheels,after the stabilizer is set on the ground for stabilization of thevehicular body during a load handling operation.

With the arrangements just described, the vehicular body oscillatingmechanism can be operated in a rightward and/or leftward direction afterthe stabilizer has been set on the ground for stabilization of thevehicular body. At this time, the right and left rear wheels are rotatedin the opposite directions by the differential device, and as a result afront portion of the vehicular body is swayed arcuately in a rightwardand/or leftward direction along with the load lifting mechanism, about apivot point between the right and left rear wheels. Accordingly, evenafter the stabilizer has been set on the ground for stabilization of thevehicle body, it is possible to sway the vehicular body in a rightwardand/or leftward direction together with the load lifting mechanism forthe purpose of adjusting freight goods lifted by the load liftingmechanism to correct unloading position. Therefore, even if the positionor direction of lifted freight goods on the load lifting mechanism isdeviated from the position of a specified unloading spot in a lateraldirection, the position or direction of the load lifting mechanism canbe easily adjusted to dump the lifted freight goods exactly on thespecified unloading spot.

According to a preferred form of the present invention, the vehicularbody oscillating mechanism is comprised by a bracket on the side of thevehicle body attached to the frame of the vehicular body, a bracket onthe side of the stabilizer having the stabilizer attached thereto, aconnecting member arranged to connect said bracket on the side of thevehicle body and said bracket on the side of the stabilizer pivotallywith each other, and a hydraulic cylinder having one end thereofconnected to the bracket on the side of the vehicle body and having theother end connected either to the bracket on the side of the stabilizeror to the connectiong member, the vehicular body oscillating mechanismbeing arranged to put the vehicular body in an oscillatory movement bytelescopic expanding and contracting actions of the hydraulic cylinder.

With the arrangements just described, if the hydraulic cylinder of thevehicle body oscillating mechanism is contacted and expanded when thestabilizer is set on the ground, the bracket on the side of the vehiclebody is swayed in a leftward and/or rightward direction relative to thebracket on the side of the stabilizer. This oscillatory movement of thebracket on the side of the vehicle body is transmitted to the frame ofthe vehicular body, causing the vehicular body to sway to the right andleft together with the load lifting mechanism arcuately about a pivotpoint between the right and left rear wheels.

Further, according to a preferred form of the present invention, theabove-mentioned connecting member is constituted by arcuate guide slotsprovided on one of the bracket on the side of the vehicular body and thebracket on the side of the stabilizer and extended arcuately about thepivot point, and a plural number of pins fixedly planted on the otherone of the bracket on the side of the vehicular body and the bracket onthe side of the stabilizer for engagement with the guide slots in spacedpositions in the longitudinal direction of the guide slots.

With the arrangements just described, when the vehicular body is swayedin a rightward and/or leftward direction by the hydraulic cylinder ofthe vehicular body oscillating mechanism, the guide slots which areprovided on one of the bracket on the side of the vehicular body and thebracket on the side of the stabilizer are brought into abuttingengagement with pins which are provided on the other bracket. As aconsequence, the vehicular body is swayed in a rightward and/or leftwarddirection arcuately about the pivot point between the right and leftrear wheels under guidance of the arcuate slots.

Further, according to another preferred form of the present invention,tubular bushes are rotatably fitted on the pins for abutting engagementwith inner surfaces of the guide slots. With the arrangements justdescribed, as the vehicular body is swayed in a rightward and/orleftward direction by the hydraulic cylinder of the oscillatingmechanism, the respective bushes are abutted against the guide slots androtated relative to the pins in the fashion of rollers. As a result, thefriction between the bushes and the guide slots is suppressed to ensuresmooth oscillatory movement of the vehicular body.

Further, according to the present invention, the connecting member isconstituted by arcuate guide slots which are provided on one of thebracket on the side of the vehicular body and the bracket on the side ofthe stabilizer and extended arcuately about the pivot point, a pluralnumber of pins which are fixedly planted on the other one of the bracketon the side of the vehicular body and the bracket on the side of thestabilizer for engagement with the guide slots in spaced positions inthe longitudinal direction of the guide slots, and tubular bushesrotatably fitted on said pins; the bracket on the side of the vehicularbody and the bracket on the side of the stabilizer are vertically spacedapart by a gap space; and the bushes and the guide slots arehorizontally spaced apart by a gap space; the bracket on the side ofvehicular body and the bracket on the side of the stabilizer beingbrought into abutting engagement with each other and at the same timeinner surfaces of the guide slots and the bushes being brought intoabutting engagement with each other when the bracket on the side of thestabilizer and the bracket on the side of the vehicular body areinclined relative to each other within ranges of the gap spaces.

With the arrangements just described, when the stabilizer is set down onthe ground for a load handling operation, the bracket on the side of thestabilizer and the bracket on the side of the vehicular body can beinclined relative to each other by a load imposed by the vehicular body.On such an occasion, the bracket on the side of the vehicular body andthe bracket on the side of the stabilizer are brought into abuttingengagement with each other, and at the same time inner surfaces of theguide slots and the bushes are brought into abutting engagement witheach other. Therefore, loads which are imposed by the vehicular body canbe sustained by the abutting portions of the bracket on the side of thevehicular body and the bracket on the side of the stabilizer as well asby the abutting portions of inner surfaces of the guide slots andbushes, thereby stabilizing the vehicular body oscillating operation.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, inner surfaces of theguide slots are formed as inclined surfaces at the same angle as theangle of inclination occurring to the bracket on the side of thestabilizer relative to the bracket on the side of the vehicle body.

With the arrangements just described, when the bracket on the side ofthe stabilizer is inclined relative to the bracket on the side of thevehicular body by a load imposed by the vehicular body, outer peripheralsurfaces of the bushes are abutted tightly against the inclined innersurfaces of the guide slots. In this case, the contacting surface areasbetween the guide slots and bushes are increased, and a load from thevehicular body can be sustained securely by abutting portions of innersurfaces of the guide slots and bushes.

Further, according to the present invention, the connecting member isconstituted by arcuate guide members provided on one of the bracket onthe side of the vehicular body and the bracket on the side of thestabilizer and extended arcuately about the pivot point, and slidemembers provided on the other one of the bracket on the side of thevehicular body and the bracket on the side of the stabilizer and held insliding engagement with the guide members.

With the arrangements just described, when the vehicular body is swayedin a rightward and/or leftward direction by the hydraulic cylinder ofthe vehicle body oscillating mechanism, the guide members which areprovided on one of the bracket on the side of the vehicular body and thebracket on the side of the stabilizer are held in sliding contact withslide members which are provided on the other one of the two brackets,thereby guiding the direction of oscillatory movement of the vehicularbody arcuately along the shape of the guide members.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a lift truck according to a first embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the lift truck of FIG. 1 taken from above;

FIG. 3 is a partly cutaway front view of a stabilizer and a vehicularbody oscillating mechanism in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view showing on an enlarged scale abracket on the side of the vehicle body, a bracket on the side of thestabilizer, guide slots, pins and bushes in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the stabilizer and the vehicular bodyoscillating mechanism in the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the bracket on the side of thevehicular body and the bracket on the side of the stabilizer shown inFIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of hydraulic cylinder, slot and pins taken fromabove;

FIG. 8 is a plan view similar to FIG. 7 but showing the hydrauliccylinder in a stretched state;

FIG. 9 is a plan view schematically showing the way the vehicular bodyis swayed upon expansion of the hydraulic cylinder;

FIG. 10 is a plan view schematically showing the way the vehicular bodyis swayed upon contraction of the hydraulic cylinder;

FIG. 11 is a partly cutaway front view similar to FIG. 3 but showingstabilizer and vehicular body oscillating mechanism adopted in a secondembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of a bracket on the side of thevehicular body and a bracket on the side of the stabilizer in the secondembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 13 is a plan view of a hydraulic cylinder, slot and pins, takenfrom above;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the bracket on the sideof the vehicle body, bracket on the side of the stabilizer, slots andbushes in FIG. 11 on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 15 is an enlarged sectional view similar to FIG. 14 but showing thebracket on the side of the stabilizer in a tilted state;

FIG. 16 is a front view similar to FIG. 3 but showing a stabilizer and avehicular body oscillating mechanism adopted in a third embodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. 17 is a sectional view of hydraulic cylinder, guide plate and slideplate, taken in the direction of arrows XVII-XVII in FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is an enlarged sectional view similar to FIG. 14 but showing afirst modification employed in place of the slot in the secondembodiment;

FIG. 19 is an enlarged sectional view similar to FIG. 18 but showing thefirst modification with a bracket on the side of the stabilizer in atilted state;

FIG. 20 is a front view similar to FIG. 3 but showing a secondmodification adopted in place of the stabilizer in the first embodiment;

FIG. 21 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 5 but showing a stabilizerand a vehicular body oscillating mechanism in the second modification;and

FIG. 22 is a plan view similar to FIG. 7 but showing a thirdmodification adopted in place of the vehicular body oscillatingmechanism in the first embodiment.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereafter, with reference to FIGS. 1 through 22 of the accompanyingdrawings, the automotive working machine according to the presentinvention is described more particularly by way of its preferredembodiments which are applied to a lift truck by way of example.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 thorough 10, there is shown a firstembodiment of the present invention. In these figures, indicated at 1 isa lift truck which is arranged to serve for freight handling jobs, forexample, for lifting freight goods up to a height from a ground surface.The lift truck 1 is largely constituted by a wheel type automotivevehicular body 2, a load lifting mechanism 12, a stabilizer 18, and avehicular body oscillating mechanism 31, which will be describedhereinlater.

Indicated at 3 is a base frame of the vehicular body 2. The frame 3 isfabricated from thick steel plates, including a longitudinally extendingbottom plate 3A, and a couple of upright and longitudinally extendingside plates 3B and 3C which are securely fixed to the right and leftsides of the bottom plates 3A to form a strong support structure. Theframe 3 is provided with front and rear wheel support portions 3D and 3Ein its fore and rear end portions to support thereon front wheels 4 and5 which will be described hereinafter and rear wheels 6 and 7,respectively. Further, a laterally extending flange plate 3F is securelyfixed at the fore end of the frame 3 between the right and left sideplates 3C and 3B. A bracket 32 on the side of the vehicular body isattached to the flange plate 3F in the manner as described hereinafter.

Denoted at 4 and 5 are left and right front wheels which are mounted onfront portions of the frame 3. More specifically, these left and rightfront wheels 4 and 5 are mounted on outer distal end portions of leftand right front wheel axles 4A and 5A which are supported on the frontwheel support portion 3D of the frame 3. Further, the left and rightfront wheels 4 and 5 are steered by a steering device (not shown) whichis provided in a cab 10 which will be described hereinafter to let thevehicular body 2 run in a straightforward direction or turn in arightward or leftward direction.

Indicated at 6 and 7 are the left and right rear wheels which areprovided on a rear portion of the frame 3. These left and right rearwheels 6 and 7 are respectively mounted on outer distal end portions ofrear wheel axles 6A and 7A which are rotatably supported on the rearwheel support portion 3E of the frame 3 through a differential device 8,which will be described hereinafter.

Designated at 8 is a differential device which is provided between theleft and right rear wheels 6 and 7. This differential device 8 islocated in an intermediate position between the left and right rearwheels 6 and 7. In this instance, the differential device 8interconnects the rear wheel axles 6A and 7A, and is connected through adrive shaft 9 or the like to a hydraulic motor (not shown) which isprovided on the vehicle as an automotive drive motor. As the hydraulicmotor is turned on, rotation of the hydraulic motor is transmitted tothe wheel axles 6A and 7A through the drive shaft 9 and the differentialdevice 8, rotating the left and right wheels 6 and 7 and putting thevehicular body 2 in travel.

Indicated at 10 is a cab which is located on a longitudinallyintermediate portion of the frame 3 between the left front wheel 4 andthe left rear wheel 6. The cab 10 internally defines an operating roomfor a machine operator. Provided within the cab 10 are an operator'sseat to be taken by an operator, a steering device for steering the leftand right front wheels 4 and 5, and a number of control levers foroperating a load lifting mechanism 12 although they are all omitted inthe drawings.

Indicated at 11 is an engine cover which is provided on a longitudinallyintermediate portion of the frame 3 between the right front wheel 5 andthe right rear wheel 7. This engine cover 11 is arranged to coverengine, hydraulic pump, heat exchanger and other equipments (all notshown) which are provided on the frame 3.

Denoted at 12 is a load lifting mechanism which is located on thevehicular body 2 and which is provided with a load lifting member forthe purpose of handling heavy freight goods or cargos. Morespecifically, in the case of the particular embodiment shown, the loadlifting mechanism 12 is provided with a boom 13 which is connected to atop end portion at the rear end of the frame 3 through a pin joint, anda fork 14 which is pivotally supported at the fore distal end of theboom 13.

In this instance, the boom 13 is of a telescopic type which isconstituted by three boom sections, i.e., a first boom section of atubular shape which is located in the outermost position, a second boomsection of a tubular shape which is extensibly accommodated in the firstboom section, and a third boom section which is extensibly accommodatedin the second boom section.

Provided between the frame 3 and the boom 13 is a boom lifting cylinder15 for raising and lowering the boom 13 up and down. More particularly,the boom 13 is moved up and down by the boom lifting cylinder 15 asindicated by solid line and two-dot chain line in FIG. 1. A boomextending cylinder 16 is attached to the outer side of the boom 13thereby to stretch the second boom section out of the first boomsection. Further, a fork cylinder 17 is connected between a fore endportion of the boom 13 and a fork 14 for turning the latter up and down.

Indicated at 18 are left and right stabilizers which are supported on afront side portion of the vehicular body 2 (on the front side of thefront wheels 4 and 5) through a bracket 33 on the side of the stabilizerin the manner as described hereinafter. During a freight handlingoperation by the load lifting mechanism 12, each stabilizer 18 is set onthe ground for maintaining the vehicular body 2 in a stabilized state.As shown in FIG. 5 and other figures, each stabilizer 18 is largelyconstituted by support plates 19, arms 20, a footing plate 23 and ahydraulic cylinder 24.

Designated at 19 are the support plates which support base end portionsof the arms 20 and the hydraulic cylinder 24. These support plates 19are securely fixed to a bracket 33 on the side of the stabilizer, whichwill be described hereinafter. The arms 20 have respective base endportions pivotally supported on the support plates 19 through a pin 21.A footing plate 23 is pivotally connected to fore end portions of thearms 20 through a pin 22.

Indicated at 24 is the hydraulic cylinder for turning the arms 20 up anddown. The bottom end of the hydraulic cylinder 24 is pivotally supportedon the support plates 19 through a pin 25 at a higher position than thebase end portions of the arms 20. The rod end of the hydraulic cylinder24 is pivotally connected to fore distal end portions of the arms 20through a pin 26. Thus, the support plates 19, arms 20 and hydrauliccylinder 24 are arranged to form a link mechanism.

When the automotive vehicular body 2 is put in travel, the hydrauliccylinders 24 of the stabilizer 18 are contracted to turn the arms 20upwards, lifting the footing plates 23 off the ground surface. On theother hand, at the time of handling freight goods by the use of the loadlifting mechanism 12, the hydraulic cylinders 24 of the stabilizer 18are extended thereby turning the arms 20 downwards to let the footingplates 23 set foot on the ground for maintaining the vehicular body 2 ina stabilized state. In this manner, during a freight handling operationby the load lifting mechanism 12, the stabilizer 18 are turned downwardsto grip the ground surface for stabilization of the vehicular body 2.

Indicated at 31 is a vehicular body oscillating mechanism which isprovided between the frame 3 and the stabilizer 18. This vehicular bodyoscillating mechanism 31 is pivotally supported on the frame 3 betweenthe front wheels 4 and 5. In this instance, the vehicular bodyoscillating mechanism 31 is constituted by a bracket 32 on the side ofthe vehicle body, a bracket 33 on the side of the stabilizer, aconnecting member 34, and a hydraulic cylinder 39. When at work with thefooting plates 23 of the stabilizer 18 set on the ground, the vehicularbody 2 on the side of the front wheels 4 and 5 is put in sway movementsby the vehicular body oscillating mechanism 31, about a pivot point A onthe differential device 8 between the right and left rear wheels 7 and 6along with the load lifting mechanism 12.

Indicated at 32 is a bracket on the side of the vehicle body, that is tosay, a bracket which is provided at the fore end of the vehicular body2. This bracket 32 on the side of the vehicular body is constituted byupper and lower plates 32A and 32B which are securely fixed to theflange plate 3F of the frame 3 by welding or by the use of bolts orother clamping means. These upper and lower plates 32A and 32B are sodisposed as to confront each other through a spacing of a predeterminedwidth, and are extended substantially in a horizontal direction.

Denoted at 33 is a bracket on the side of the stabilizer, that is tosay, a bracket which supports the stabilizer 18. As shown in FIG. 6,this bracket 33 on the side of the stabilizer is formed into a boxstructure by the use of upper plate 33A, lower plate 33B, front plate33C and side plates 33D. In this instance, the support plates 19 for theright and left stabilizers 18 are securely fixed to the right and leftside plates 33D by welding or by the use of other suitable fixation meanrespectively.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, rear end portions of the upper and lowerplates 33A and 33B of the bracket 33 on the side of the stabilizer areplaced in the spacing between the upper and lower plates 32A and 32B ofthe bracket 32 on the side of the vehicle body, and are held in abuttingengagement with the lower side of the upper plate 32A and the top sideof the lower plate 32B of the bracket 32, respectively.

Indicated at 34 is a connecting member which is provided between thebracket 32 on the side of the vehicular body and the bracket 33 on theside of the stabilizer. This connecting member 34 serves to pivotallyconnect the bracket 32 on the side of the vehicular body with thebracket 33 on the side of the stabilizer. The connecting member 34 isconstituted by slots 35, pins 36 and 37 and bush 38, which will bedescribed hereinafter.

Denoted at 35 are guide slots which are formed in the upper and lowerplates 32A and 32B of the bracket 32 on the side of the vehicle body. Inthis instance, as shown particularly in FIGS. 2 and 7, the slots 35 arealigned with each other in the vertical direction, and are formed in theshape of an arc of radius R having its center at a pivot point A betweenthe left and right rear wheels 6 and 7.

Indicated at 36 and 37 are left and right pins which are provided on thebracket 33 on the side of the stabilizer in spaced positions in thelongitudinal direction of the slots 35. These pins 36 and 37 areextended in the vertical direction in a fixed state between the upperand lower plates 33A and 33B of the bracket 33 on the side of thestabilizer. The opposite axial ends of the pins 36 and 37 are receivedin the above-mentioned slots 35, and held in engagement with innersurfaces of the slots 35 through bushes 38, which will be describedhereinafter.

Denoted at 38 are four tubular bushes which are rotatably fitted onaxial end portions of the pins 36 and 37. These bushes 38 are retainedin position on the opposite axial end portions of the pins 36 and 37 bythe use of stopper rings (not shown) or the like. Outer peripheralsurfaces of the bushes 38 are held in abutting engagement with innersurfaces of the slots 35. In this instance, the bushes 38 have anoutside diameter which is smaller than the width of the slots 35, and asmall gap space B is left between the outer periphery of each bush 38and the inner surface of the slot 35 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 7 to permitrotations of the bushes 38 relative to the pins 36 and 37.

Indicated at 39 is a hydraulic cylinder which is provided between thebracket 32 on the side of the vehicular body and the bracket 33 on theside of the stabilizer. This hydraulic cylinder 39 is composed of a tube39A, a piston (not shown) which is slidably fitted in the tube 39A, anda rod 39B which is fixed to the piston at its base end and projected outof the tube 39A at the opposite fore end. In this instance, one end ofthe hydraulic cylinder 39, that is to say, the bottom side of the tube39A is rotatably connected to a support pin 40 which is provided betweenthe upper and lower plates 32A and 32B of the bracket 32 on the side ofthe vehicle body. On the other hand, the other end of the hydrauliccylinder 39, that is to say, the projected outer end of the rod member39B is rotatably connected to the pin 37 which is provided between theupper and lower plates 33A and 33B of the bracket 33 on the side of thestabilizer as described above.

Accordingly, if the rod 39B of the hydraulic cylinder 39 is expandedand/or contracted after setting the footing plates 23 of the stabilizer18 on the ground, the bracket 32 on the side of the vehicular body isswayed to the right and/or to the left relative to the bracket 33 on theside of the stabilizer. This oscillatory movement of the bracket 32 onthe side of the vehicular body is transmitted to the frame 3 of thevehicle body, and, as a result, front portion of the vehicular body 2 isoscillated arcuately about pivot point A or a center point between theleft and right rear wheels 6 and 7 along with the load lifting mechanism12.

In this instance, as the vehicular body 2 is oscillated to the rightand/or to the left by the hydraulic cylinder 39, the slots 35 on theside of the bracket 32 on the side of the vehicular body are engagedwith the pins 36 and 37 on the bracket 33 on the side of the stabilizerto guide the direction of oscillation of the vehicular body 2 along thearcuate shape of the slots 35.

Further, at this time outer peripheral surfaces of the bushes 38 whichare fitted on the opposite end portions of the pins 36 and 37 abuttedagainst inner surfaces of the slots 35 and turned around the pins 36 and37 in the fashion of rollers. This contributes to reduce frictionbetween the slots 35 and the bushes 38 and to let the vehicular body 2oscillate smoothly to the right and left along the slots 35.

According to the present embodiment, the lift truck 1 with the abovearrangements is operated in the manner as follows.

Firstly, for handling freight goods by the use of the load liftingmechanism 12, the vehicular body 2 is stopped at a working site, and, asshown in FIG. 1, the hydraulic cylinder 24 of the stabilizer 18 isexpanded to set the footing plates 23 on the ground for stabilization ofthe vehicular body 2. At this time, as soon as the stabilizer 18 is seton the ground, the left and right front wheels 4 and 5 are slightlyfloated off the ground surface while the left and right rear wheels 6and 7 alone are allowed to rest on the ground as shown in FIG. 3.

In the next place, the control levers (not shown) of the load liftingmechanism 12 are manipulated by an operator within the cab 10 to operatethe boom lifting cylinder 15, boom extending cylinder 16 and forkcylinder 17. Then, for example, after loading freight onto the fork 14at the lowered position of the load lifting mechanism 12, which isindicated by solid line in FIG. 1, the boom lifting cylinder 15 isoperated to lift up the boom 13 to the upper lifted position which isindicated by two-dot chain line, for lifting the freight on the fork 14to a predetermined height.

In this instance, in case the freight is lifted by the load liftingmechanism 12 in a direction which is diverted in a rightward or leftwarddirection relative to a specified unloading position, it becomesnecessary to adjust the position or direction of the lifted freight in arightward and/or leftward direction. In such a case, pressure oil issupplied to the hydraulic cylinder 39 of the vehicular body oscillatingmechanism 31 to expand and contract the rod 39B of the hydrauliccylinder 39 to a suitable degree.

As described above, the rod 39B of the hydraulic cylinder 39 isconnected to the bracket 33 on the side of the stabilizer through thepin 37, while the bracket 33 on the side of the stabilizer is fixedlyset on the ground.

Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, for example, when the rod 39B ofthe hydraulic cylinder 39 is expanded, the bracket 32 on the side of thevehicular body is swayed arcuately to the leftward direction relative tothe bracket 33 on the side of the stabilizer under the guidance of theslots 35 and pins 36 and 37 of the connecting member 34. As a result,while the bracket 33 on the side of the stabilizer remains in a fixedstate, the sway of the bracket 32 on the side of the vehicular body istransmitted to the frame 3 of the vehicular body 2.

At this time, the vehicular body 2 stands on the ground by way of theleft and right rear wheels 6 and 7 alone, and these left and right rearwheels 6 and 7 are rendered inversely rotatable relative to each otherby the differential device 8 between the left and right rear wheel axles6A, 7A. Therefore, when the bracket 32 and the vehicular body 2 areswung in a leftward direction by the hydraulic cylinder 39, the leftrear wheel 6 is slightly rotated in the reverse direction while theright rear wheel 7 is slightly rotated in the forward direction.

As a consequence, as shown in FIG. 9, the front side of the vehicularbody 2 is swayed together with the load lifting mechanism 12 within anangular range a in a leftward direction and arcuately along the slots35, drawing an arcuate locus of movement about a pivot point A which islocated at the center of the differential device 8 between the left andright rear wheels 6 and 7. Thus, when the hydraulic cylinder 39 isexpanded, the load which has been lifted by the load lifting mechanism12 can be moved in a leftward direction.

On the other hand, when the rod 39B of the hydraulic cylinder 39 iscontracted, for example, the bracket 32 on the side of the vehicularbody is arcuately swayed in a rightward direction to the bracket 33 onthe side of the stabilizer as shown in FIG. 10, under the guidance ofthe slots 35 and the pins 36 and 37 of the connecting member 34. Thisoscillatory movement of the bracket 32 is then transmitted to thevehicular body 2. Whereupon, the left rear wheel 6 is slightly rotatedin the forward direction while the right rear wheel 7 is slightlyrotated in the reverse direction.

As a result, the front side of the vehicular body 2 is swayed togetherwith the load lifting mechanism 12 within an angular range a arcuatelyalong the slots 35, drawing an arcuate locus of movement about a pivotpoint A which is located at the center of the differential device 8between the left and right rear wheel 6 and 7. Thus, upon contraction ofthe hydraulic cylinder 39, the load which has been lifted by the loadlifting mechanism 12 is moved in a rightward direction.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, even after thestabilizer 18 has been set on the ground for stabilization of thevehicular body 2, it is possible to sway the vehicular body 2 in arightward and/or leftward direction together with the load liftingmechanism 12 by operation of the vehicular body oscillating mechanism 31while lifting up a load by the load lifting mechanism 12.

Accordingly, even in a case where the position or direction of liftedfreight goods on the load lifting mechanism 12 is deviated from aspecified unloading spot in a lateral direction, the position ordirection of the load lifting mechanism 12 can be adjusted in a lateraldirection for unloading the freight goods exactly on a specifiedunloading spot.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the bushes 38 arerotatably fitted on opposite axial end portions of the pins 36 and 37which are fixedly planted on the bracket 33 on the side of thestabilizer. Therefore, when the vehicular body 2 is swayed by thehydraulic cylinder 39, the respective bushes 38 are abutted againstinner surfaces of the guide slots 35 and rotated around the pins 36 and37 in the fashion of rollers.

As a result, the friction between the slots 35 and the bushes 38 islessened to a significant degree to ensure smooth oscillatory movementof the vehicular body 2 along the arcuate shape of the slots 35. Inaddition, the just-described arrangements contribute to enhance thedurability of the pins 36 and 37 on the bracket 33 on the side of thestabilizer as well as the durability of the slots 35 on the bracket 32on the side of the vehicle body, guaranteeing stable operations of thevehicular body oscillating mechanism 31 over a long period of time.

Referring now to FIGS. 11 through 15, there is shown a second embodimentof the present invention. This embodiment has features in that verticalgap spacings are provided between the bracket on the side of thevehicular body and the bracket on the side of the stabilizer, andhorizontal gap spacings are provided between the bushes and the guideslots. In the following description of the second embodiment, thosecomponent parts which are identical with the counterparts in theforegoing first embodiment are simply designated by the same referencenumerals or characters to avoid repetitions of the same explanations.

In the figures, indicated at 3′ is a frame which is employed in thepresent embodiment in place of the frame 3 in the first embodiment.Similarly to the counterpart in the first embodiment, this frame 3′ isconstituted by a bottom plate 3A′, a left side plate 3B′, a right sideplate 3C′, a front wheel support portion 3D′ and a rear wheel supportportion (not shown). However, attached to the front side of the frame 3′of the second embodiment is a flange plate 3F′ which is larger invertical length as compared with the flange plate 3F in the firstembodiment.

Indicated at 41 is a vehicular body oscillating mechanism which isadopted by the present embodiment in place of the vehicular bodyoscillating mechanism 31 of the first embodiment. Similarly to thevehicular body oscillating mechanism 31, this vehicular body oscillatingmechanism 41 is actuatable to sway the front side of the vehicular body2 to the right and left after the right and left footing plates 23 ofthe stabilizer 18 have been flipped down to set foot on the ground.Similarly, the vehicular body oscillating mechanism 41 is constituted bya bracket 42 on the side of the vehicle body, a bracket 43 on the sideof the stabilizer, a connecting member 49 and a hydraulic cylinder 39.

Indicated at 42 is a bracket which is provided at the front end of thevehicular body 2. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the bracket 42 on theside of the vehicular body is constituted by an upper plate 42A, a lowerplate 42B and a cylinder mounting plate 42C which are securely fixed tothe flange plate 3F′ of the frame 3′ by welding or by the use of boltsor other clamping means. These upper and lower plates 42A and 42B andthe cylinder mounting plate 42C of the bracket 42 are vertically facedand spaced substantially in parallel relation with each other.

Designated at 43 is a bracket on the side of the stabilizer whichprovides stabilizer 18. As seen in FIGS. 11 and 12, this bracket 43 onthe side of the stabilizer is formed in a box structure which isenclosed by a upper plate 43A, a lower plate 43B, a cylinder mountingplate 43C, a front plate 43D and left and right side plates 43E. Thesupport plates 19 for the stabilizer 18 are securely fixed to the leftand right side plates 43E. The upper and lower plates 43A and 43B of thebracket 43 on the side of the stabilizer are placed between the upperand lower plates 42A and 42B of the bracket 42 on the side of thevehicular body.

A couple of transversely extending slide plates 44 are securely fixed onthe top side of the upper plate 43A on the front and rear sides of aguide slot 50, which will be described hereinafter. Similarly, a coupleof transversely extending slide plates 44 are securely fixed on thelower side of the lower plate 43B on the opposite sides of a guide slot50. Each one of these slide plates 44 constitutes part of the bracket 43on the side of the stabilizer.

On the other hand, a tube 39A of a hydraulic cylinder 39 is rotatablyconnected on the cylinder mounting plate 42C of the bracket 42 on theside of the vehicular body by the use of a support pin 45, while a rod39B of the hydraulic cylinder 39 is rotatably connected to the cylindermounting plate 43C of the bracket 43 on the side of the stabilizer bythe use of a support pin 46.

In this instance, assuming that the bracket 42 on the side of thevehicular body has a vertical spacing of a dimension C1 between theupper and lower plates 42A and 42B and the bracket 43 on the side of thestabilizer 18 has a vertical spacing of a dimension C2 between the slideplate 44 fixed on the top side of the upper plate 43A and the slideplate 44 fixed on the lower side of the lower plate 43B of the bracket43 on the side of the stabilizer as shown in FIG. 14, arrangements aremade to have the dimension C1 and C2 in dimensional relations ofC1−C2=D.

Namely, the dimension C1 (the height of the vertical spacing between theupper and lower plates 42A and 42B of the bracket 42 on the side of thevehicle body) is larger by D than the dimension C2 (the height of thebracket 43 on the side of the stabilizer, including the slide plates 44on the upper and lower plates 43A and 43B).

Accordingly, the dimension D is corresponding to a vertical gap space 47which is parallely formed between the bracket 42 on the side of thevehicular body and the bracket 43 on the side of the stabilizer.

In this instance, the gap space 47 is formed between the bracket 42 onthe side of the vehicular body and the bracket 43 on the side of thestabilizer. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 15, when the stabilizer 18 isflipped down to set foot on the ground, the bracket 43 on the side ofthe stabilizer is caused to incline relative to the bracket 42 on theside of the vehicular body through an angle of inclination θ within thegap space 47 by a load imposed from the side of the vehicular body 2. Asa result, a slide plate 44 on the top side of the upper plate 43A of thebracket 43 on the side of the stabilizer is abutted against the upperplate 42A of the bracket 42 on the side of the vehicular body at itsupper front edge as indicated by the abutting portion 48 to sustain theload from the vehicular body 2 by and at the abutting portion 48.

Indicated at 49 is a connecting member which is provided between thebracket 42 on the side of the vehicular body and the bracket 43 on theside of the stabilizer. This connecting member 49 serves to connect thebracket 42 on the side of the vehicular body and the bracket 43 on theside of the stabilizer pivotally with each other. For this purpose, theconnecting member 49 is constituted by guide slots 50, pins 51 and 52and bushes 53, which will be described hereinafter.

Denoted at 50 are guide slots which are formed in the upper and lowerplates 43A and 43B of the bracket 43 on the side of the stabilizer.Similarly to the slots 35 in the first embodiment, these slots 50 areformed in the shape of an arc of radius R having a center located at apivot point A between the left and right rear wheels 6 and 7 (see FIG.13).

Indicated at 51 and 52 are left and right pins which are provided on thebracket 42 on the side of the vehicle body, in spaced positions in thelongitudinal direction of the guide slots 50. These pins 51 and 52 areprovided fixedly on the bracket 42 on the side of the stabilizer and areextended vertically between the upper and lower plates 42A and 42B ofthe bracket 42. Axially intermediate portions of these pins 51 and 52are engaged with the slots 50 through a bush 53 which will be describedbelow.

Indicated at 53 are four bushes which are rotatably fitted on the pins51 and 52. These bushes 53 are fitted on pin portions corresponding inheight to the guide slots 50 which are provided on the bracket 43 on theside of the stabilizer. Each one of the bushes 53 is set in position onthe pin 51 or 52 by the use of a stopper ring to prevent dislocation,and abutted against inner surfaces 50A of a slot 50 on the outerperipheral side. In this instance, the bushes 53 have an outsidediameter which is smaller than the width of the guide slots 50, and, asshown in FIG. 14, a horizontal gap space 54 of a relatively small widthE is left between the outer periphery of each bush 53 and inner surface50A of the guide slot 50.

Since the gap space 54 is left between the outer periphery of the bush53 and inner surface of the slot 50, the bushes 53 are abutted againstthe inner surfaces 50A of the guide slots 50 in the upper and lowerplates 43A and 43B of the bracket 43 on the side of the stabilizer atupper front edges 55 and lower rear edges 56 of the slots 50,respectively, as shown in FIG. 15 when the bracket 43 on the side of thestabilizer is inclined relative to the bracket 42 on the side of thevehicular body through an angle of inclination θ.

As a consequence, when the bracket 43 on the side of the stabilizer isinclined relative to the bracket 42 by a load imposed from the side ofthe vehicle body, the load from the vehicular body 2 can be securelysustained by the abutting portions 48 between the brackets 43 and 42 onthe side of the stabilizer and the vehicular body and by the upper andlower abutting portions 55 and 56 between the bushes 53 and the guideslots 50.

The lift truck with the above-described vehicular body oscillatingmechanism 41 according to the second embodiment is operated in themanner as follows.

Firstly, if the rod 39B of the hydraulic cylinder 39 is expanded and/orcontracted during a load handling operation with the stabilizer 18 seton the ground, the bracket 42 on the side of the vehicular body isswayed to the right and/or to the left relative to the bracket 43 on theside of the stabilizer under guidance of the slots 50 and pins 51 and 52which constitute the connecting member 49.

The oscillatory movement of the bracket 42 on the side of the vehicularbody is transmitted to the frame 3 of the vehicular body 2. Whereupon,the front side of the vehicular body 2 is swayed together with the loadlifting mechanism 12 arcuately to the right and left about a pivot pointA which is located at a center point between the left and right rearwheels 6 and 7. Therefore, even if the position of freight which hasbeen lifted by the load lifting mechanism 12 is deviated from aspecified unloading spot in a lateral direction, the load liftingmechanism 12 can be moved in a lateral direction during a load handlingoperation to dump the lifted freight correctly on a specified unloadingspot by the load lifting mechanism 12.

Besides, according to the second embodiment, a vertical gap space 47 isprovided between the bracket 42 on the side of the vehicular body andthe bracket 43 on the side of the stabilizer, and at the same time ahorizontal gap space 54 is provided between the bushes 53 on the pins 51and 52 and inner surfaces 50A of the guide slots 50.

Therefore, when the stabilizer 18 is set on the ground, the bracket 43on the side of the stabilizer is inclined relative to the bracket 42 onthe side of the vehicular body through an angle of inclination θ withinthe ranges of the gap spaces 47 and 54 by a load imposed from the sideof the vehicular body 2 (shown FIG. 15). At this time, the bracket 43 onthe side of the stabilizer is abutted against the bracket 42 on the sideof the vehicular body at the abutting portion 48, while the guide slots50 and the bushes 53 are abutted against each other at the abuttingportions 55 and 56. Accordingly, a load which is imposed from the sideof the vehicular body 2 can be securely sustained at the abuttingportions 48, 55 and 56, permitting to sway the vehicular body 2 inrightward and leftward directions in a stabilized state by the use ofthe vehicular body oscillating mechanism 41.

Now, referring to FIGS. 16 and 17, there is shown a third embodiment ofthe present invention. This embodiment has features in that theconnecting member of the vehicular body oscillating mechanism isconstituted by an arcuate guide member which is provided on the bracketon the side of the vehicle body, and a slide member which is provided onthe bracket on the side of the stabilizer. In the following descriptionof the third embodiment, those component parts which are identical withthe counterparts in the above-described first embodiment are simplydesignated by the same reference numerals or characters to avoidrepetitions of the same explanations.

In the drawings, indicated at 61 is a vehicular body oscillatingmechanism which is adopted in the present embodiment in place of thevehicular body oscillating mechanism 31 in the first embodiment. Thisvehicular body oscillating mechanism 61 is constituted by a bracket 62on the side of the vehicle body, a bracket 63 on the side of thestabilizer, an upper connecting member 66, a lower connecting member 69and a hydraulic cylinder 39, which will be described hereinafter.

Designated at 62 is a bracket on the side of the vehicle body, which isprovided at the fore end of the vehicular body 2. This bracket 62 isconstituted by upper and lower plates 62A and 62B which are securelyfixed to the flange plate 3F of the frame 3 by welding or by the use ofbolts or other clamping means. The upper and lower plates 62A and 62Bare extended substantially in the horizontal direction and are spacedfrom each other in the vertical direction.

Indicated at 63 is a bracket on the side of the stabilizer whichprovides the stabilizer 18. This bracket 63 on the side of thestabilizer is formed in a box structure which is enclosed by an upperplate 63A, a lower plate 63B, a front plate 63C and left and right sideplate 63D. Further, support plates 19 for the stabilizer 18 are securelyattached to the left and right side plates 63D.

The upper and lower plates 63A and 63B of the bracket 63 on the side ofthe stabilizer are placed between the upper and lower plates 62A and 62Bof the bracket 62 on the side of the vehicle body. Further, a gap spaceis provided between the top side of the upper plate 63A and the lowerside of the upper plate 62A for an upper connecting member 66 which willbe described hereinafter. A gap space is also provided between the lowerside of the lower plate 63B and the top side of the lower plate 62B fora lower connecting member 69 which will be described hereinafter.

Further, through a support pin 64, the tube 39A of the hydrauliccylinder 39 is pivotally connected to the upper and lower plates 62A and62B of the bracket 62 on the side of the vehicle body, and, through asupport pin 65, the rod 39B of the hydraulic cylinder 39 is pivotallyconnected to the upper and lower plates 63A and 63B of the bracket 63 onthe side of the stabilizer.

Indicated at 66 is an upper connecting member which is provided betweenthe upper plate 62A of the bracket 62 on the side of the vehicular bodyand the upper plate 63A of the bracket 63 on the side of the stabilizer.This upper connecting member 66 is constituted by guide plates 67 and aslide plate 68, which will be described hereinafter.

Denoted at 67 are a couple of guide plates which are provided in foreand rear spaced positions on the upper plate 62A of the bracket 62 onthe side of the vehicle body. These fore and rear guide plates 67 areeach constituted, for example, by a steel plate which is bent into anarcuate shape and securely fixed to the lower side of the upper plate62A by the use of bolts (not shown). In this instance, each one of thefore and rear guide plates 67 is formed in the shape of an arc having acenter at the pivot point A between the left and right rear wheels 6 and7. As shown in FIG. 17, an arcuate groove is formed between the twoguide plates 67, the arcuate groove being in the shape of an arc ofradius R having a center at the pivot point A between the left and rightrear wheels 6 and 7.

Indicated at 68 is a single slide plate which is provided on the upperplate 63A of the bracket 63 on the side of the stabilizer. This slideplate 68 is constituted, for example, by a steel plate which is bentinto an arcuate shape, and securely fixed on the top side of the upperplate 63A by the use of bolts (not shown). Further, the slide plate 68is placed in the arcuate groove which is formed between the two guideplates 67, and slidably engaged with the two guide plates 67.

Designated at 69 is a lower connecting member which is provided betweenthe lower plate 62B of the bracket 62 on the side of the vehicular bodyand the lower plate 63B of the bracket 63 on the side of the stabilizer.This lower connecting member 69 is constituted by guide plates 70 and aslide plate 71, which will be described hereinafter.

Denoted at 70 are a couple of guide plates which are provided in spacedfore and rear positions on the lower plate 62B of the bracket 62,on theside of the vehicle body. These guide plates 70 are formed in the samearcuate shape as the above-described guide plates 67. Formed between thetwo guide plates 70 is an arcuate groove of radius R having a center atthe pivot point A between the left and right rear wheels 6 and 7.

Indicated at 71 is a single slide plate which is provided on the lowerplate 63B of the bracket 63 on the side of the stabilizer. This slideplate 71 is formed in the same arcuate shape as the above-describedslide plate 68. Further, the slide plate 71 is placed in the arcuategroove which is formed between the two guide plates 70, and slidablyengaged with the two guide plates 70.

Therefore, as the vehicular body 2 is swayed laterally in a rightwardand/or leftward direction by the hydraulic cylinder 39, the oscillatorymovement of the vehicular body 2 is guided arcuately along the guideplates 67 and 70 by the slide plate 68 which is in sliding contact withthe guide plates 67 of the upper connecting member 66 and the slideplate 71 which is in sliding contact with the guide plates 70 of thelower connecting member 69.

With the above-described vehicular body oscillating mechanism 61, thelift truck according to the third embodiment of the invention isoperated in the manner as follows. Firstly, when the stabilizer 18 isset on the ground for stabilization of the vehicle body, the rod 39B ofthe hydraulic cylinder 39 is expanded and/or contracted. Whereupon, thebracket 62 on the side of the vehicular body is swayed in a rightwardand/or leftward direction relative to the bracket 63 on the side of thestabilizer, under guidance of the guide plates 67 and slide plate 68 ofthe upper connecting member 66 and the guide plates 70 and slide plate71 of the lower connecting member 69.

Thus, even in the case of the third embodiment, after the stabilizer 18is set on the ground for a load handling operation, the vehicular bodyoscillating mechanism 61 can be actuated to sway the vehicular body 2 ina rightward and/or leftward direction along with the load liftingmechanism 12 when freight goods are lifted by the load lifting mechanism12 in a laterally deviated position or direction relative to a specifiedunloading spot, adjusting the direction of the vehicular body laterallyin a rightward and/or leftward direction to let the load liftingmechanism 12 lift down the freight goods exactly on a specifiedunloading spot.

In the above-described second embodiment, by way of example the innersurfaces 50A of the guide slots 50 are formed in parallel relation withouter peripheral surfaces of the bushes 53 as shown in FIG. 14.

However, it is to be understood that the present invention is notlimited to a particular example shown. For example, there may beemployed guide slots 50′ which are arranged as in a first modificationshown in FIGS. 18 and 19. Namely, in place of the above-described guideslots 50, guide slots 50′ may be provided in the bracket 43 on the sideof the stabilizer, the guide slots 50′ having inner surfaces 50A′ whichare inclined by an angle θ, which corresponds to an angle of inclinationθ of the bracket 43 on the side of the stabilizer relative to thebracket 42 on the side of the vehicle body.

Accordingly, when the bracket 43 on the side of the stabilizer isinclined relative to the bracket 42 through an angle θ by a load imposedthereto from the side of the vehicular body 2 as shown in FIG. 19, thearrangements of the first modification make it possible to increase thecontacting surfaces areas outer between the outer surfaces of the bushes53 and the inclined inner surfaces 50A′ of the guide slots 50′. Thismeans that a load imposed from the side of the vehicular body 2 can besupported more securely by abutting portions of the inclined innersurfaces 50A′ of the guide slots 50′ and the bushes 53.

Further, in the above-described first embodiment, by way of example thestabilizer 18 is shown as being constituted by arms 20, footing plates23 and hydraulic cylinder 24.

However, it is to be understood that the present invention is notlimited to the particular stabilizer construction shown. For example, itis also possible to employ a stabilizer 81 as in a second modificationshown in FIGS. 20 and 21. More particularly, it is possible to employ astabilizer 81 which is constituted by transversely extending upper andlower support frames 82, and left and right hydraulic cylinders 83 whichare fixed to and downwardly extended from opposite right and left endportions of the support frames 82.

Furthermore, in the above-described first embodiment, the tube 39A atone end of the hydraulic cylinder 39 is connected to the support pin 40on the bracket 32 on the side of the vehicle body, and the rod 39B atthe other end of the hydraulic cylinder 39 is connected to the pin 37 ofthe connecting member 34 (FIG. 7).

However, the present invention is not limited to the particulararrangements shown. For example, arrangements may be made as in a thirdmodification shown in FIG. 22 if desired. More particularly, in thiscase, aside from the pins 36 and 37 of the connecting member 34, asupport pin 84 is fixedly provided on the bracket 33 on the side of thestabilizer, and the rod 39B of the hydraulic cylinder 39 is connected tothe support pin 84.

Further, in each one of the foregoing embodiments, by way of example thedifferential device 8 is located at the pivot point A between the leftand right rear wheels 6 and 7. However, the present invention is notlimited to the particular arrangements shown. For example, if desired,the differential device 8 may be located in a position which is shiftedor deviated from the pivot point A between the left and right rearwheels 6 and 7.

Furthermore, in the foregoing third embodiment, the two guide plates 67of the upper connecting member 66 are provided on the bracket 62 on theside of the vehicle body, while the slide plate 68 is provided on thebracket 63 on the side of the stabilizer. In addition, the two guideplates 70 of the lower connecting member 69 are provided on the bracket62 on the side of the vehicle body, while the slide plate 71 is providedon the bracket 63 on the side of the stabilizer.

However, the present invention is not limited to the particulararrangements shown. For instance, it is possible to provide the twoguide plates 67 on the bracket 63 on the side of the stabilizer, whileproviding the slide plate 68 on the bracket 62 on the side of thevehicle body. Similarly, it is possible to provide the two guide plates70 on the bracket 63 on the side of the stabilizer, while providing theslide plate 71 on the bracket 62 on the side of the vehicle body.

Moreover, in the foregoing third embodiment, the upper connecting member66 is constituted by two guide plates, i.e., the fore and rear guideplates 67, and a single slide plate 68 which is interposed between thetwo guide plates 67. Similarly, the lower connecting member 69 isconstituted by two guide plates, i.e., the fore and rear guide plates70, and a single slide plate 71 which is interposed between the twoguide plates 70. However, in this regard, it is to be understood thatthe present invention is not limited to the particular arrangementsshown. For example, the upper connecting member 66 may be constituted bya single guide plate 67 and a couple of slide plates 68 which arearranged to hold the guide plate 67 from the front and rear sides of thelatter. Similarly, the lower connecting member 69 may be constituted bya single guide plate 70 and a couple of slide plates 71 which arearranged to hold the guide plate 70 from the front and rear sides of thelatter.

Furthermore, in each one the foregoing embodiments, by way of examplethe present invention is applied to a lift truck which is provided witha fork 14 on the front side of a load lifting mechanism 12. However, itis to be understood that the present invention is broadly applicable toother automotive working machines, including a lift type working vehiclewith an operator's deck on the front side of a load lifting mechanism.

1. An automotive working machine, having: an automotive vehicular body(2) including a longitudinally extending frame (3, 3′), right and leftfront wheels (4, 5) provided in a front portion of said longitudinalframe, and right and left rear wheels (6, 7) provided in a rear portionof said longitudinal frame through a differential device (8); a loadlifting mechanism (12) provided on said frame (3, 3′) of said vehicularbody (2); a stabilizer (18, 81) provided at a front end of saidvehicular body (2) and adapted to set foot on the ground forstabilization of said vehicular body during a load handling operation bythe use of said load lifting mechanism (12); characterized in that saidautomotive working machine comprises: a vehicular body oscillatingmechanism (31, 41, 61) provided between said frame (3, 3′) of saidvehicular body (2) and said stabilizer (18, 81) and actuated to swaysaid vehicular body (2) arcuately in a rightward and/or leftwarddirection together with said load lifting mechanism, about a pivot point(A) located between said right and left rear wheels, after saidstabilizer is set on the ground for a load handling operation.
 2. Anautomotive working machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said vehicularbody oscillating mechanism (31, 41, 61) is comprised by a bracket (32,42, 62) on the side of the vehicle body attached to said frame (3, 3′)of said vehicular body (2), a bracket (33, 43, 63) on the side of thestabilizer having said stabilizer (18, 81) attached thereto, aconnecting member (34, 49, 66, 69) arranged to connect said brackets(32, 42, 62) on the side of the vehicle body and said bracket (33, 43,63) on the side of the stabilizer pivotally with each other, and ahydraulic cylinder (39) having one end thereof connected to said bracket(32, 42, 62) on the side of the vehicle body and having the other endconnected either to said bracket (33, 43, 63) on the side of thestabilizer or to said connecting member (34, 49, 66, 69), said vehicularbody oscillating mechanism being actuatable to put said vehicular body(2)in an oscillatory movement by telescopic expanding and contractingactions of said hydraulic cylinder.
 3. An automotive working machine asdefined in claim 2, wherein said connecting member (34, 49) isconstituted by arcuate guide slots (35, 50) provided on one of saidbracket (32, 42) on the side of the vehicular body and said bracket (33,43) on the side of the stabilizer and extended arcuately about saidpivot point (A), and a plural number of pins (36, 37, 51, 52) fixedlyplanted on the other one of said bracket (32, 42) on the side of thevehicular body and said bracket (33, 43) on the side of the stabilizerfor engagement with said guide slots (35, 50) in spaced positions in thelongitudinal direction of said guide slots (35, 50).
 4. An automotiveworking machine as defined in claim 3, wherein tubular bushes (38, 53)are rotatably fitted on said pins (36, 37, 51, 52) for abuttingengagement with inner surfaces of said guide slots (35, 50).
 5. Anautomotive working machine as defined in claim 2, wherein saidconnecting member (49) is constituted by arcuate guide slots (50)provided on one of said bracket (42) on the side of the vehicular bodyand said bracket (43) on the side of the stabilizer and extendedarcuately about said pivot point (A), a plural number of pins (51, 52)fixedly planted on the other one of said bracket (42) on the side of thevehicular body and said bracket (43) on the side of the stabilizer forengagement with said guide slots (50) in spaced positions in thelongitudinal direction of said guide slots (50) and tubular bushes (53)rotatably fitted outer on said pins (51, 52); said bracket (42) on theside of the vehicular body and said bracket (43) on the side of thestabilizer is vertically spaced apart by a gap space (47); and saidbushes (53) and said guide slots (50) are horizontally spaced apart by agap space (54); said bracket (42) on the side of vehicular body and saidbracket (43) on the side of the stabilizer being brought into abuttingengagement with each other and at the same time inner surfaces (50A) ofsaid guide slots (50) and said bushes (53) being brought into abuttingengagement with each other when said bracket (43) on the side of thestabilizer and said bracket (42) on the side of the vehicular body areinclined relative to each other within ranges of said gap spaces (47,54).
 6. An automotive working machine as defined in claim 5, whereininner surfaces of said guide slots (50′) are formed as inclined surfaces(50A′) at the same angle as angle of inclination (θ) occurring to saidbracket (43) on the side of stabilizer relative to said bracket (42) onthe side of the vehicle body.
 7. An automotive working vehicle asdefined in claim 2, wherein said connecting member (66, 69) isconstituted by arcuate guide members (67, 70) provided on one of saidbracket (62) on the side of the vehicular body and said bracket (63) onthe side of the stabilizer and extended arcuately about said pivot point(A), and slide members (68, 71) provided on the other one of saidbracket (62) on the side of the vehicular body and said bracket (63) onthe side of the stabilizer and held in sliding engagement with saidguide members (67, 70).